Permutation-lock



A. L. VEARA- PERMUTATION LOCK.

APPLICATION men NOV. 24, 1919.

1,340,5 3 a wd May 18, 1920.

v Q F/ I I I I I j J 7 16 J r 1/ LZ IDJ TUL V fnven for UNITED srn rns ALBERT LAWRENCE vnnnn, orflnn psriron'r, ,CQNATnCImG Ir.

PERMUTATION-LOCK.

Specification of Letters 2mm. P t t May 1 1920,

Application filed November'24, 1919-. Serial No. 340,302.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT LAWRENCE VEARA, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bridgeport, in the county of Fairfield and Stateof Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Permutation-Locks, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in permutation locks for use in looking loose parts and material, such as tires and the like, in place in automobiles, against accidental or unauthorized removal, and the object of my improvement is to produce a lock for the purpose specified in the form of a combination lock that is relatively simple and economical inconstruction and convenient and eflicient in use.

In the accompanying drawing Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved permutation lock, the position of the bolt mem er when in the unlocked position, being shown by broken lines.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the lock member as viewed from the bolt receiving end.

' Fig. 3 is a similar view of the body portion of the lock member.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the said body portion. I i

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 55 of Fig. 2, the bolt member being shown in broken lines and the parts being setin the position for engaging and disengaging.

F ig. 6 is a similar view with the bolt member in position in the lock member and with the parts in the locked position.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view on the line 77 of Fig.6.

Fig. Sis a plan View of the spring.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view corresponding to Fig. 6 of a modification of the lock member in which the provision of felt washers for water-proofing is omitted.

My improved permutation lock comprises a lock member 10 and a bolt member 11 that are adapted to cooperate to effect the looking, the outer ends 12 of the said members, remote from the engaging portions being formed in any desired manner to complete the locking structure. As shown the said ends 12 have each a hole 13 that isadaptedto receive anfendozt fac'hain'.

The bolt member 11 comprises as the engaging portion a bolt 14 in the form of an elongated structure of rectangular cross-sect 1on,-ha ving a straight lower edge 1 5, and having the up per edge jgenerally fstraight and provided with a set of recesses .16 at'spac'ed intervals that serve as separating spaces between adjacent lugs or teeth As shown, there are three spaces 16 andthree teeth 17, arranged with one tooth 17 at thein'ner end 18, the other two teeth :being positioned in series outwardly, the third tooth 17 being separated from'vthe shank portion 19 by the outermost open space 16.

The bolt 14c is supported by a head structure that is composed of a cylindrical disk like portion 20 adjacent the shank 19 and'a slightly enlarged portion 21 between the said disk-like portion 20 and the end portion 12.

The bolt 14, as shown and describedfis substantially in the form of a key that is adapted to operate with a set of locking rings inthe lock member, and the stepped head orbase, composed of the disk-like members 20 and 21, servesto cooperate withithe end structure of the lock member :for positioning the bolt while in the lock member and thereby assist in effecting the locking.

The lock member 10 comprises a shank or shaft 22 having a .fixed head 23 at the outer end portion, adjacent the connecting end portion 12, and a removablehead'24 at the inner end, and intermediate the said headshas a set of rings of annular-form, mounted to rotate on the shaft 22 andprovided with individual springs 25. i The rings, as shown, are threein number, comprising an inner ring 26 at the inner end, adjacent the fixed head'23, an outer ring 27 at the outer end,.adjacent-the removable-head 24, and a middle ring 28 intermediate the saidinner and outer rings.

In their inner or internal structures the rings are similar, being preferably of uniform-.'thickness, the combined thickness being suchas toprovide a good operative fit fonrotation betweenthetwo heads :23 and 24, serving to substantiallyzfillwthe.spacebe- Cir tween the said heads. The openings in the rings are such as to provide a fit for the shaft 22.

Furthermore, the thickness of each tum bler is equal to the combined axial length of one tooth 17 and the adjacent space 16 of the bolt 15, suitably to cooperate therewith, and for receiving and housing the tooth 17 in each case the rings are provided on their inner faces with a circular recess 29.

In use, the end wall portions 30 of the recesses 29 engage with the teeth 17 and thereby prevent the removal of the bolt, except when'the locking rings are in certain positions, as will be described.

On the exterior, the end rings 26 and 27 have each an overhanging flange 31 that overhangs the adjacent heads 23 and 24, and the flange 31 is provided with a groove on the inner side in which is housed a packing washer 32 of felt or other suitable material for excluding dust and dirt.

In a similar manner the middle ring 28 overhangs each of the adjacent end rings by means of a flange 33 having a protecting washer 34.

The middle ring 28, accordingly, is slightly larger in diameter than the adjacent end rings, 26 and 27, which is advantageous in the manipulating of the device.

The end wall 30 of the recess 29 is provided with a radial slot 35 for admitting the tooth 17 to the housing recess 29, and the shaft 22 has a radial slot 36 to correspond for admitting the body portion of the bolt 14.

The recesses 29 also serve as a housing for the springs 25, the springs being supported by the shank 22 and being in bearing engagement with the outer, circumferential wall 37.

The springs 25 are made of wire and are preferably of loop form, made by a return bend of the wire so as to have a rounded form for the free end 38, the wire ends 39 being twisted together and inserted in a hole 40 in the shaft 22.

The shaft 22 is of cylindrical form for the major portion, on which the rings are mounted, has the radial slot 36 for the bolt 14, already mentioned, and has a set of radial holes 40 also mentioned, for the ends 39 of the springs 25, and has a reduced and threaded outer end 41 for receiving the removable head 24.

The removable head 24 is of annular form, the opening being provided with a screw thread for engaging with the reduced end 41, has a radial slot 42 in registration with the slot 36 in the shaft 22 for receiving the bolt 14, including the portion thereof having the teeth 17 has a recess in the end for receiving the circular base or head portion 20 of the bolt structure, and has the extreme end faced off to provide a bearing 44 for the enlarged head portion 21.

In the structure shown in Fig. 9 the overhanging flanges and protecting washers are omitted, the rings 26, 27 and 28 having peripheries of strictly cylindrical form.

In both forms of structure the peripheries of the rings are provided each with a set of markings 45 at uniformly spaced intervals and. the heads may also be provided with markings if desired, or a single mark may be provided on each of the heads or on one head only.

Also, the markings or marks 45 are provided with suitable indicating numerals 46, according to any system desired.

One having a knowledge of the system and the particular detail for a particular lock can set the rings so that the different radial slots will all be in registration, so as to permit of freely inserting and removing the bolt. In all other positions the rings will be in locking position, for engaging with the teeth 17.

The marks 45 extend entirely across the rings in all cases and the setting of the rings can be effected with accuracy and without difficulty because the adjacent rings are in actual contact, without the interposition of other parts or members of any kind.

It will be noted that the structure described is such as is adapted to have all of the parts made of steel and hardened to resist cutting tools, and I find it desirable to provide this feature as a preventive against wilful damage to the lock.

I claim as my invention 1. A permutation lock comprising a lock member and a bolt member, the said lock member comprising a shaft provided with a pair of heads in spaced relation and having a radial slot on one side, and having a plurality of locking rings rotatively mounted on the said shaft, the said rings having each a radial slot on one side extending outwardly from the said shaft. and being provided with a recess concentric with the axis of the shaft on the side remote from the bolt receiving end, the said bolt member comprising a head and a bolt extending longitudinally therefrom and provided with a plurality of teeth along one edge, separated by spaces, the said bolt being receivable in the said lock member when the slots in the rings are in registration with the slot in the shaft so that the said teeth will be in registration with the said recesses and the opposed body portions of the rings will be housed in the said spaces, springs supported by the said shaft and engaged with the said rings operative to check the rotation of the said rings, and the parts being constructed and arranged so that turning one or more of the rings from the receiving position will effect a locking of the bolt in the lock member, with the teeth housed in the recesses of the rings and also having the springs housed in the said re- 1 CGSSGS.

2. A permutation look as described in claim 1, the said head of the bolt member being of stepped form, and the portion of the lock member opposed thereto being of correspondingly stepped form suitable to serve as a seat therefor.

3. A permutation look as described in claim 1, and the joints between relatively rotating parts being provided With an overhanging flange on one of the parts, having a protecting Washer for excluding foreign material.

ALBERT LAWRENCE VEARA. 

